CIA Director William Burns is in the Middle East meeting with intelligence partners and leaders of several countries on matters including ones related to the war between Israel and Hamas, a U.S. official said Monday.
Quick Read
- CIA Director William Burns is currently in the Middle East for meetings with intelligence partners and leaders regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, among other issues.
- Discussions are focusing on the situation of around 240 foreigners reportedly held by Hamas in Gaza and strategies to prevent the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Burns’ visits are part of reinforcing the U.S.’s commitment to intelligence cooperation in the Middle East, especially concerning terror and security issues.
- The U.S. Navy has an Ohio-class submarine (an SSGN, not armed with nuclear weapons) operating in the Middle East, which recently entered the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. This deployment is meant for deterrence in the region.
- The Red Cross facilitated the transportation of critically wounded patients from Gaza to Egypt for medical treatment, which is part of a tripartite agreement involving Egypt, Israel, and Hamas for humanitarian aid and movement of foreign passport holders.
The Associated Press has the story:
CIA Director visits Middle East to meet with Intelligence partners
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
CIA Director William Burns is in the Middle East meeting with intelligence partners and leaders of several countries on matters including ones related to the war between Israel and Hamas, a U.S. official said Monday.
Topics include the fate of some 240 foreigners being held hostage by the Hamas militant group in Gaza, and the U.S. commitment to prevent state and nonstate actors from widening the Israel-Hamas war regionally, the U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Burns’ typically off-the-record travel plans.
The U.S. intends Burns’ discussions with Middle East officials to reinforce American commitment to intelligence cooperation, especially on terror and security, the official said.
US NAVY SUBMARINE IN MIDEAST IS NOT ARMED WITH NUKES, DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS
WASHINGTON — The Ohio-class submarine that U.S. Central Command announced had sailed into Middle East waters on Sunday is an SSGN, a guided missile submarine variant that is not capable of firing nuclear weapons, a defense official told The Associated Press.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.
The vessel was photographed as it transited the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, the defense official said.
On Monday, Pentagon press secretary Brig . Gen. Pat Ryder said the submarine would provide “further support our deterrence efforts in the region.”
Although it’s not unusual for a U.S. submarine to transit the canal in Egypt, Central Command’s online statement acknowledging the location of an Ohio-class submarine is rare. There are Ohio-class submarines that can fire nuclear weapons, known as SSBN or ballistic missile submarine variants.
RED CROSS SAYS IT ACCOMPANIED CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS TO RAFAH CROSSING POINT
The International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday accompanied a convoy of four ambulances transporting seven critically wounded patients from al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City to the Rafah crossing point into Egypt, Jessica Moussan, a spokesperson for the ICRC told the AP.
The patients were evacuated to Egypt for treatment as part of a deal among Egypt, Israel and Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza. The deal also calls for foreign passport holders to exit the besieged territory to Egypt.
Monday’s evacuation was the first since the crossing was closed over the weekend because of a dispute among Israel, Egypt and Hamas.
